“Timbuktu,” which portrays oppression at the hands of jihadists in northern Mali, offers one of the most gently lyrical and original portrayals of withstanding tyranny ever shown.
At the Movies
‘McFarland, USA’ – Uplifting, Family Film
Kevin Costner plays Jim White, a high school science teacher and coach in 1980s California who recognizes a widespread gift among his new Latino students for long-distance running.
Academy Awards Predictions
Last Summer, I was often asked by friends to suggest some good films. Two great films that I saw last year were “Ida” and “Calvary.” I mentioned both of those to anyone who asked me for a recommendation. However, everything I heard about “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Blended,” “Maleficent” and “Hercules,” not only prevented me from […]
Moral Reckoning in ‘Hobbit’ Finale
By John Mulderig NEW YORK (CNS) – With “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” (Warner Bros.), director Peter Jackson’s trilogy of films based on Catholic writer J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 fantasy novel “The Hobbit, or There and Back Again” reaches a rousing finale. Mixed opinions have been generated by Jackson’s transformation of a single, […]
Third ‘Night at the Museum’ Offers Good-Natured Fun
By Joseph McAleer NEW YORK (CNS) – All creatures great and small, including some long-dead humans, spring to life when the sun goes down in “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” (Fox), the third film in the popular franchise. The original cast returns for some good-natured and with one or two exceptions, family-friendly […]
‘Ouija’ is Muddled Chiller
Like some who play the “game” from which it takes its title, the folks behind “Ouija” (Universal) want to have it both ways: It’s all about harmless fun, of course. But what if it’s not?
‘Nightcrawler’ for Mature Audiences
The world of local TV news reporting provides the backdrop for the strikingly creepy character study “Nightcrawler” (Open Road). Though it showcases a memorable performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, the drama also features a gritty urban atmosphere pervaded by an air of moral nihilism.
Movie Review: ‘Journey’ Is Light, Lacks Substance
Like an airy souffle, director Lasse Hallstrom’s food-themed romantic fantasy “The Hundred-Foot Journey” (Disney) has an elegant appearance and a charming taste but not much substance.